Mining sulfur



(No Model.)

P. HIGGINS 8v G. W. CARROLL.

MINING SULFUR.

Patented Apr. 27, 1897.

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UNITED STATES PATTILLO HIGGINS AND GEORGE IV. CARROLL, OF BEAUMONT, TEXAS.

MINING SULFUR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 581,479, dated April 27, 1897'.k Application iiled March l0, 1896. Serial No. 582,607. (No model.)

and simplify the mining process and to reduce the cost of extracting the mineral from its bed and toprevent the loss incident to such process and apparatus which reduce the mineral to a liquid state by the application thereto of steam or other fluid or a solution 0r hot water which permeates the fissures of the stratum or bed and carries off valuable byproducts.

In accordance with this invention air heated to a proper temperature is forced under pressure to the mineral-bearing bed or stratum and serves both to reduce the min eral to va liquid state and to raise the same to the surface by reason of the heady or pressure, and in order to prevent the chilling of the liquefied mineral during its ascent and passage to a suitable point of discharge the conveyer is enveloped in a heating medium, such as hot air, steam, &c.

For a full understanding of the merits and advantages of the invention reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings and the following description.

The improvement is susceptible of various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction without departing from the principle or sacricing any of the advantages thereof, and to a full disclosure of the invention an adaptation thereof is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a detail view of an apparatus for carrying out the spirit of this invention, parts being in section. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the upper portion of the casing and the parts associated therewith, showing the hoisting-ring in position. l Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the lower part of the casing and the parts connected therewith.

The underlying principle of this invention resides in forcing hot air to the mineral-bearing strata at such a temperature as to liquefy the mineral, whereby the latter can be removed in any way found most convenient7 either by pumping or by the pressure of the air itself, the latter being preferred, as it causes the mineral to automatically rise in a pipe or conveyer to the surface of the ground. To attain this end, the apparatus herein illustrated has been devised and will be referred to in detail hereinafter, the same referencecharacters being employed to designate similar and corresponding parts in the description and all the figures of the drawings.

The shaft is preferably lined by a shell 1, so as to prevent loose formations dropping into and choking the shaft. is shown in the shaft and comprises a casing 2 and an inner shell or pipe 3, inclosing a space 4 between their opposing sides, through which is forced hot air, steam, or other heating medium forliquefying the sulfur and maintaining the same in a molten state while passing through the shell or pipe 3. A ring 5 closes the upper end of the space 4 and is formed with an opening 6, in which is fitted a pipe 7 for conveying the hot air, steam, or other heating medium into the space 4 from a suitable source. A ring S closes the lower end of the space 4 and has a series of openings 9, through which the hot air, steam, or other heating medium escapes from the space 4. The shell or pipe 3 extends through the ring S and projects below the same a short distance and supports a nozzle, the upper member of which isa ring 10, having openings 11, corresponding in position and number with the openings 9 in the ring 8 and to which the lower ends of short pipes 12 are fitted, the upper ends of the said pipes having connection with the openings 9. Nipples 13 are fitted to the lower ends of the openings 11 and project a short distance from the lower end of the ring 10 and serve to direct the jets of hot air, steam, &c., against the inner curved wall of the lower member 14 of the nozzle. This lowerniember 14 is of annular form and comprises concentric walls 15 and 16, which are closed and connected at their lower ends by a cap 17, the latter being concave on its inner side to receive the impact of the jets escaping from the nipples 13, so as The apparatus.

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to direct the said jets upward through the shell or pipe 3. The outer wall 1G has a screwthread connection with the ring 10, and the inner wall 15 extends into the lower end of the pipe or shell 3 and is of such diameter as to leave an annular space between it and the opposing wall of the pipe 3, through which the hot air, steam, or other medium passes. A tapering ring 1S is fitted to the lower end of the pipe and has a screw-thread connection therewith, and the lower portion of this ring extends into the annular space formed between the parts 15 and Obviously by adjusting either the tapering ring 1S or the part leithe annular space formed between them can be varied, thereby controlling the force and amount of hot air, steam, or other medium escaping into the shell or pipe 3. The tapering wall of the ring 18 faces inward and serves to deflect the escaping steam toward the center of the pipe 3, thereby acting as a twyer to compel the liquid sulfur to be drawn through the nozzle into the pipe or shell 3 and through the latter to the surface of Jthe ground and to a convenient point of discharge. Thus it will be seen that the hot air, steam, or other heating medium is used, first, to reduce the sulfur in its bed to amolten condition, and, secondly, to compel it to as eend and flow to the point at which it is collected.

The pipe 7 may be connected with a blower, air-pump, or other means for supplying air under pressure to effect the desired result, but, as shown, it has communication with a receiver 1f), containing' air under pressure, and the air is heated in its travel through the pipe 7 by any suitable means. The heater 2O illustrated is supplied with steam from a suitable generator by mea-ns of a pipe 2l., and the water of condensation is drawn olf through a pipe 22, having communication with the lower end of the heater. A coil 23, located in the heater, has communication with and practically forms a continuation of the pipe 7. The heating medium being supplied to the space 4 escapes therefrom by the means herein described into the dischargepipe 3, and the latter being closed by suitable means (not shown) the hot air or like medium will pass through the nozzle or the part 15 thereof into the bed and liquefy the sulfur, and upon opening the pipe 3 the medium confined there in will escape therefrom and create a vacuum, which will cause the molten sulfur to pass through the discharge-pipe along with the medium to the point of discharge.

It will be understood that suitable means will be provided for supporting the apparatus in the shaft 1, and, as shown in Fig. 2, a ring 2i encircles the casing 2 and is grooved on its inner side to receive bits or jaws 25, which are toothed on their outer edges and moved into engagement with the casing by means of set-screws 26. This ring 24 is supplied at opposite points with eyes 27 to receive a hoisting-tackle when it is required to seifrre lift the apparatus from the shaft. rlhe ring rests upon a collar 2S, applied to the upper end of the shell 1, and which in turn is supported upon a plate 29, resting upon a snit able platform or base 30, provided at the mouth of the shaft.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. In an apparatus for mining mineral, a casing, a pipe passing through the casing and forming therewith a space which is closed at its ends, means for supplying a fluid medium under pressure to the said space, and a noz zle comprising concentric walls inclosing a space which is closed at one end by a cap concave on its inner side, and having the annular space formed between the walls of the nozzle in direct communication with the space formed between the pipe and casin g, and having the inner wall of the nozzle projecting into the lower end of the aforesaid pipe and providing an annular escape for the fluid inedium, substantially in the manner set forth for the purpose specified.

2. In an apparatus for mining mineral, a casin g, a pipe passing through the casing and forming therewith a space which is closed at its ends, means for supplying a heating medium under pressure to the said space, a ring 10 fitted to the projecting end of the pipe and having communication with the aforesaid space, and a nozzle, comprising concentric walls joined by a cap portion concave on its inner wall, secured by means of its outer wall to the aforesaid ring, and having its inner wall entering the projecting end of the pipe and forming a space for the escape of the heating medium, substantially as shown and described.

3. In an. apparatus for mining mineral, a casin g, a pipe passing through the casing and forming therewith a space which is closed at its ends, means for supplying a heating me dium to the said space under pressure, a ring 1S fitted within the projecting portion of the pipe and having its inner wall tapering, a nozzle, comprising concentric walls united at one end by a cap concave on its inner wall, having direct communication with the aforesaid space, and having its inner wall extending into the tapering space inclosed by the ring 1S, and means for relatively adjusting the ring 18 and nozzle, substantially in the m anner set forth for the purpose specified.

4. In an apparatus for mining mineral, the combination of a casing, a pipe passing through the casin g and forming therewith a space closed at its ends, means for supplying a heating medium under pressure to the said space, a ring fitted externally to the lower end of the pipe, aseries of small pipes connecting the ring with the lower portion of the space formed between the pipe and casing, nipples projecting from the ring and in communication with the small pipes, a ring having its inner wall tapering and adjustably fitted within the first-mentioned pipe, and a IOO IIO

nozzle applied to the external ring and havof the easing, substantially as set forth for ing its inner portion extending into the space the purpose described. inolosed by the tapering Wall of the inner In testimony that We elailn the foregoing as ring, substantially as speoitied. our oWn We have hereto affixed our signatures 5 5. In an apparatus for mining mineral, the in the presence of two Witnesses.

combination with a easing extending into the PATTILLO HIGGINS. shaft, of a clamp-ring having eyes to receive GEORGE W. CARROLL. the hoisting-tackle and grooved on its inner Witnesses:

edge, toothed jaws fitted in the groove, and L. B. PIFOKIN, ro set-screws to cause the jaws to grip the sides W. DIXON. 

